GUILDENSTERN. My lord, I cannot. 

 HAMLET. I pray you. 

 GUILDENSTERN. Believe me, I cannot. 

 HAMLET. I do beseech you. 

 GUILDENSTERN. I know no touch of it, my lord. 

 HAMLET. ’Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your finger and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. Look you, these are the stops. 

 GUILDENSTERN. But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony. I have not the skill. 

 HAMLET. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music, excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak. ’Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me. 

 Enter Polonius. 

Polonius

 God bless you, sir. 

 POLONIUS. My lord, the Queen would speak with you, and presently. 

 HAMLET. Do you see yonder cloud that’s almost in shape of a camel? 

 POLONIUS. By the mass, and ’tis like a camel indeed. 

 HAMLET. Methinks it is like a weasel. 

 POLONIUS. It is backed like a weasel. 

 HAMLET. Or like a whale. 

 Prev. P 58/106 next